Kenya Maritime Authority revokes recognition for vessel builders, mandates fresh approvals

The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has revoked all previously issued letters of recognition for vessel builders throughout the country, effective immediately.

This judgement requires all vessel builders to seek new approvals from the authority before continuing with their operations.

The decision is part of KMA's larger endeavour to control and oversee maritime activities, ensuring that safety and quality requirements are met in the vessel construction business.

In an official statement, KMA emphasised that this new criterion is critical for protecting both investors and consumers by allowing only licensed builders who satisfy the specified requirements to operate.

“Kenya Maritime Authority is mandated to regulate, coordinate and oversee all maritime affairs in Kenya. Under this mandate, the Authority is in the process of registering all vessel builders in the country. This endeavour is intended not only to monitor and regulate the standards of construction of vessels in the country but also to protect investors and consumers of vessel services,”  said KMA Director General Eng Martin Dzombo Munga.

According to KMA, this initiative is also projected to improve maritime transit safety and increase the competitiveness of Kenya's vessel manufacturing business, making it a more dependable and appealing sector for both domestic and foreign investors.

"This will enhance maritime transport safety and the competitiveness of the Kenyan vessel manufacturing and production industry," according to the statement.

The Authority has strongly urged the public to exercise caution and only purchase vessels from KMA-certified builders, noting that this measure is intended to protect consumers from substandard maritime products and services, which could pose significant risks to safety and financial investments.

Consumers who buy from certified builders can be confident in the quality and safety of the vessels they purchase.

To facilitate the registration procedure, vessel builders must submit certain documents to KMA. These documents include a Certificate of Incorporation, KRA PIN, Business Permit, copies of at least two directors' passports or national IDs, and the address and physical location of their yard, together with a map sketch.

Builders who fail to comply with the new requirements risk being barred from the market as the Authority steps up its efforts to fully control the industry. The Authority has also stated that it will perform frequent inspections to ensure continued compliance with these requirements, underscoring its commitment to marine safety.